Overview
This safari gives you the opportunity to visit the most important national parks in Uganda for primate viewing in Bwindi and Kibale National Parks. You will do a lot of birding and game drives in open roof vehicles along the Queen Elizabeth National Park, including the boat cruise along Kazinga Channel. For accommodation, you can choose between Classic, Midrange and Budget depending on your choice.
Highlights
- Scenic drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi
- Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel
- Game drives
- Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest National Park
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival — Kampala
On arrival, you will be met by your assigned representative who will transfer you to Kampala for the option of available accommodations:
- Luxury: Serena Hotel,
- Mid-range: Protea hotel,
- Budget: Namirembe Guest House.
Meals — Dinner
Day 2: Kampala – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After an early breakfast, depart for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. A stopover at the Equator for photography after which you proceed to Mbarara for Lunch. Along the way, you will enjoy views of the wonderful vegetation, the long horned Ankole cattle, the Ugandan homesteads and farms amang others.
Sign into a lodge option where you’ll be staying for 2 nights:
- Luxury: Rushaga Gorilla Camp,
- Mid range: Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge,
- Budget: Amasiko Homestay Lake Bunyonyi.
Meals — Dinner
Day 3: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Mountain Gorilla Tracking
After breakfast, your guide will drive you to the starting point for the gorilla tracking with packaged lunch where you will be briefed by the Park rangers at 8am. The forest is magnificent as it offers a heavily dense landscape crossed by numerous animal trails, allowing access to tourists. The time taken to find the gorillas varies according to the landscape and the movements of these marvelous primates.
The gorillas are shy and peaceful animals and the excitement of viewing, observing and photographing them as they interact with one other is a rare and exciting experience.
Return to your lodging facility.
Meals — Breakfast, Lunch (packed) and Dinner
Day 4: Bwindi — Queen Elizabeth NP — Ishasha Tree climbing lions
After breakfast, your guide will drive you and your party northwards to Queen Elizabeth NP via Ishasha Sector for an afternoon lion game drive in the open savannah on the edge of the Albertine Rift Valley. You will search for the typical tree climbing lions found only in this part of the country. It is impressive to see them lying on the branches of fig trees.
Lunch en-route, In the afternoon proceed to the Mweya peninsula and check in at Mweya Safari Lodge for the night with dinner served.
Day 5: Kazinga Channel wildlife viewing boat cruise and game drive
After breakfast, the day starts with an early morning game drive along Kasenyi and Queen’s mile tracks in the park and you will be able to see lions, elephants, Cape buffaloes, warthogs, leopards, spotted hyena, mongoose, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, topi and a lot of small animals and birds.
Return to the lodge for relaxation at the swimming pool and lunch after which you go for a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. A good place for bird watching as you will be able to see many water birds like cormorants, pelicans, eagles, among others as well as crocodiles, hippos, elephants, buffaloes among others.
Return to Lodge and relax for tomorrow’s trip to Kibale.
Day 6: Queen Elizabeth — Kibale Forest NP.
Take your time and have a good breakfast before your tour manager drives you northwards via Fort Portal and later Kibale Forest National Park with packed lunch. Optionally, when you get to Kibale, you can embark on an evening walk through Bigodi swamp and view some of nature’s gift through the swamp, meet natives and take it easy.
Lodging options in Kibale include:
- Luxury: Primate Lodge,
- Mid-Range: Isunga Lodge,
- Budget: Rweteera Safari Park.
Meals — Dinner
Day 7: Chimpanzees trekking in Kibale National Park
After breakfast, our driver guide will take you to the park headquarters for briefing and proceed for chimpanzee tracking near Kanyanchu. This can take you half a day. On the trek you can also encounter on other primates like the golden monkey, L’Hoest monkey, baboons, white and black colobus monkeys, grey checked mangabey, red colobus, blue monkeys and pottos. Other animals include forest elephants unique from the common type, giant forest hogs and a striking tree species. Return to your lodge for Lunch and later go for a guided nature walk to Bigodi wetland, a good site for bird viewing if interested. Here you will spot on birds like the Great Blue Turaco, Papyrus Gonolek can easily be marked among other 137 bird species. There is also a collection of butterfly species to be seen.
Return to your lodge for relaxation.
Meals — Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Kibale – Entebbe International Airport
After breakfast, start on the journey back to Entebbe for your flight back home. Another opportunity yet to see wonderful vegetation, the long horned Ankole cattle, the Ugandan homesteads and farms. A stopover in Mbarara town for lunch after which you proceed to Entebbe International Airport for your flight.
End of Safari
Includes
- Driver Guide and Safari Car with Gasoline
- Park Entrance Fees
- Gorilla Trekking Permit
- Chimpanzee Tracking Permit
- All Meals as specified in itinerary
- Accommodation as specified in itinerary
Excludes
- Visa
- International air fares
- Activities/ services not included in the Itinerary
- Alcoholic drinks/ wines
- Laundry and any service of personal nature.